Summary
Ayako Fujitani (藤谷 文子, Fujitani Ayako, born December 7, 1979) is a Japanese actress and writer.[1]
Ayako Fujitani | |
|---|---|
| 藤谷 文子 | |
 | |
| Born | Ayako Faith Fujitani December 7, 1979 Osaka, Japan |
| Other names | Ayako Seagal |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, writer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
Early life edit
Ayako Fujitani was born in Osaka, Japan. She is the daughter of Steven Seagal by his first wife, aikido master Miyako Fujitani. Her parents separated when she was a toddler. She resided in Los Angeles as a teenager.
Career edit
Acting edit
Fujitani made her first television appearance in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, after a meeting at a film festival with director Shusuke Kaneko. She worked again with him on an episode of Ultraman Max, which he directed. Other film roles include parts in Sansa, the "Interior Design" segment of Tokyo!,[2] and Man from Reno.[3]
Writing edit
Fujitani wrote for the Japanese magazine Roadshow. She had published her coupled novellas Touhimu (Flee-Dream) and Yakeinu (Burnt Dog). Along with writer and director Hideaki Anno, Fujitani co-adapted her novella Touhimu (Flee-Dream) into the film Shiki-Jitsu in 2000, and starred in the lead role. It was the first non-animated feature released by Studio Ghibli under the Studio Kajino label.
Fujitani has written both fiction and non-fiction, contributing essays and short stories to various national publications.[4]
In 2014, Fujitani co-wrote an Ermenegildo Zegna-commissioned short film with Park Chan-wook, Chung Chung-hoon, and Michael Werwie that Park also directed, and that Clint Mansell scored entitled A Rose Reborn starring Jack Huston and Daniel Wu.[5]
Other pursuits edit
In 2006, she directed a short drama for TV Tokyo's Drama Factory program.[6]
Personal life edit
She married screenwriter Javier Gullón in 2016. The couple have two daughters.[7]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Gamera: Guardian of the Universe | Asagi Kusanagi | |
| 1996 | Gamera 2: Attack of Legion | Asagi Kusanagi | |
| 1996 | Musashi | ||
| 1998 | The Patriot | McClaren's Assistant | |
| 1999 | Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris | Asagi Kusanagi | |
| 2000 | Pyrokinesis | Waitress | |
| 2000 | Shiki-Jitsu | She | |
| 2003 | Sansa | June | |
| 2005 | Ikusa | ||
| 2007 | Kyaputen Tokio | Cafe Gal Owner | |
| 2008 | Tokyo! | Hiroko | |
| 2008 | Death of Domomata | Hamada | |
| 2012 | Daylight Savings | Erika | |
| 2012 | A Chorus of Angels | Kaori Ando | |
| 2013 | The Doors | Tub Girl | Short film |
| 2014 | Man from Reno | Aki | |
| 2015 | The Lion Standing in the Wind | Sakoto Kojima | |
| 2015 | Hee | Mrs. Sanada | |
| 2020 | I Will Make You Mine | Erika | |
| 2023 | Tokyo Cowboy | [8] |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Ultraman Max | Yuri Sakata | Episode: "Prophecy of Baradhi" |
| 2010 | Atami no Sousakan | Mio Shikishima | |
| 2010 | FACE MAKER | Haruka Shiina | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Last Ship | Kyoko | 7 episodes |
| 2018 | Mozart in the Jungle | Yuki | 2 episodes |
References edit
- ^ Ordona, Michael (March 19, 2009). "Ayako Fujitani". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ "Giant Turtles and Blown up Helicopters: The Story of Ayako Fujitani". 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-11-30.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0297858/ [user-generated source]
- ^ Hernon, Matthew (November 4, 2013). "Renaissance Woman: Getting to know Ayako Fujitani". Tokyo Weekender. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Akande, Zainab (October 23, 2014). "Watch: Park Chan-wook's Fashionista Thriller Starring Jack Huston and Jason Wu". IndieWire. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ "Ayako Fujitani". 11 November 2021.
- ^ Ra'eesah Manack (November 7, 2018). "Ayako Fujitani". amomama.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "TOKYO COWBOY". Hawaii International Film Festival. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
External links edit
- Official website
- Agency profile
- Ayako Fujitani at IMDb
- Profile at JMDb (in Japanese)
- Ken's Force review of Shikijitsu
- KFC Cinema review of Gamera